Bobbin cleaner



June 14, 1955 E. K. BAUER BOBBIN CLEANER 5 Shee cs-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.20, 1954 E. K. BAUER BQBBIN CLEANER June 14, 1955 Filed Jan. 20} 1954 5,Sheets-Sheet 2 June 14, 1955 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. K.BAUER BOBBIN CLEANER June 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 20, 1954June 14, 1955 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 E. K. BAUER BOBBIN CLEANER f itedBGBBIN CLEANER Application January 20, 1954, Serial No. 405,189

7 Claims. (Cl. 28-19) This invention relates to textile machinery and,more particularly, to mechanical apparatus for stripping waste yarn frombobbins. In prior practice, it is customary to remove Waste yarn frombobbins manually; and for this purpose, the operator employs a sharpknife which scores or gouges the bobbin to such an extent that it cannotbe used again without grinding or polishing. This reworking of thebobbins is sometimes more expensive than replacement. A machine whichcompletely removes all waste yarn from the bobbin and, particularly,yarn in the corners of the bobbin without the necessity of em,- ployingsharp instruments or manual labor is very desirable from the standpointof saving time and money. While I am aware that machines have beenproposed for removing waste yarn, such devices have not been accepted byindustry primarily because they have not been able to remove all theyarn effectively or, because they are dangerous.

The present invention therefore has for its primary object the provisionof a machine which automatically removes all the yarn from a bobbinwithout further manipulation once the operator has initiated the cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swinging carriage fora bobbin which carries a bobbin from a a loading position through aplurality of cleaning positions which successively remove yarn piledagainst the flange of the bobbin and, also, yarn around the main spindleof the bobbin.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of thetype described, a plurality of yarn-removing brushes, at least some ofwhich are positioned in a manner to remove yarn from the corners, of thebobbin between the spindle and the flanges.

A further object of the invention is tov provide, in a machine of the.class described, safety devices for initiating and stopping theoperating cycle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a highly efficientwaste yarn remover capable of completely' removing the waste yarn from abobbin in a matter of less than two seconds.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings inwhich:

Figure l is a top view of a waste yarn remover constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

Figure 2 is a, partially sectioned front view of the structure of Figurel as seen along the line 2- 2;

Figure 3 is an end view of the structure of Figure l as seen at, 3-3 butwith the bobbin carriage in the loading, position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view as seen at 4-4 of Figure 2 butwith the bobbin carriage in the fully advanced brushing position;

, Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the loading station as seen at 55 ofFigure 1;

Figure 6 is an end view of the structure of Figure Stand Figure 7 is anenlarged sectional detail as seen at 7-7 of Figure l;

ice

Figure 8 is a view of the wiring diagram.

The invention comprises essentially the provision. of. a relatively widebrush. This brush is mounted in a fixed position on a frameworkapproximately of the same width or axial length as the spindle of thebobbin to be cleaned. A pair of thin or narrow brushes are mounted atangles of approximately 30 to the horizontal in. such a manner that theycontact the corners formed by the bobbin spindle and the bobbin flanges.In the preferred. embodiment, there are two corner brushes independentlydriven by separate motors and one large brush inde-- pendently driven byits own motor. A bobbin carriage is pivoted on the framework so that itswings from an outer loading station past the corner brushes and thenceinto proximity with the wide large brush. The bobbin is caused to turnpartially when in contact with the large brush, whereupon the carriagereverses to replace the bobbin at the loading station where it isquickly exchanged by the operator for the next bobbin having yarn to beremoved. The entire cleaning cycle is performed in less than twoseconds.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1-3 of the drawings, thepreferred embodiment illustrated therein comprises a frame assemblyhaving a base 10 and a plurality of upright posts or pillars 11, 12, 13,14, I5 and braces 16, 16. The main cleaning brush is secured to ahorizontal shaft 21 by means of flanges. 22, 22 and nut 23. Shaft 21 isjournaled in bearings 24, 24 and driven from an independent motor 25through pulleys 26, 27 and belt 28. The small corner brushes 3i) and,30" are identical to each other and mounted on the armature shafts 31and 31' of motors 32 and 32'. Motors 32 and 32 are supported on posts l2and 13 respectively by angle brackets 33 and 33' so that the centerlinesof shafts 31 and 31 are approximately 30 from the horizontal. Thehorizontal spacing of the motors will, of course, be determined by thelength of the particular bobbins B which are being cleaned. Suitableadjustment for bobbin length, brush diameter and wear is provided bymeans of slottedmountings for the motors, the brackets, and the bearings24 for brush 20.

The bobbin B is securely clamped between the centers of a pivotingcarriage. journaled at 35 and 36 on posts 12 and 13. A Shaft 37 supportsthe carriage and has spaced housings 3S and 39 connected to the shaftthrough links 40, iii. Oscillation of the carriage about the center ofshaft 37 is controlled through rocker arms 41 and 42 keyed to each endof the shaft. The main driveshaft 45 is journaled at each end in.bearings 46, 46 on pedestals 11 and 14. The shaft 45 is provided with acombined flywheel and cam at each end thereof, the cam 47 being keyed tothe left end of the shaft and the cam 48 being keyed to the right endthereof. The inner face of each cam or fly wheel 47 and 43 is providedwith an axially facing cam track t? which is allochiral on each cam.These cam tracks control the oscillation of shaft 37 through camfollowers 5% 59 on the rocker arms 41 and 42. Figures 3 and 4 illustratethe extreme positions of this pivoting oscillatory movement. In Figure.3 the carriage is in its outermost or loading position, whereas inFigure 4 the carriage is in its innermost position in which the bobbincontacts the large blush. 20. Since the cycle. of cleaning a bobbin iscompleted in one revolution of the main driveshaft 3-5, I provide acycling control switch associated with cam 47 and controlled by a rise56 on the periphery of the cam. When in the loading or unloadingposition of Figure 3, the circuit to the main motor 57 is held open byswitch 55; but, once the cycle. is initiated, the switch remains closedfor a complete revolution of the shaft 45 until it is again opened bythe rise 56.

The left face of each cam 47 and 48 controls the bobbin clampingmechanism which is mounted in the housings 38 and 39. The bobbin isinserted or removed between housings 38 when the carriage is in itsoutermost position shown in Figure 3. The operator displaces aspring-loaded collar on bobbin shaft 61 to permit insertion of thebobbin between shaft 61 and its opposite aligned shaft 62. Both of theshafts, however, are mova ble axially and controlled by helicalcompression springs 63 and 64 to insure that the bobbin B is engagedbetween centers during the yarn removal process. This is accomplished bymeans of the rocker arms 65 and 66 pivoted in bifurcated brackets 67 and68 respectively. The lower end of arm 66 is provided with a roller 69which engages the outer face of cam 47. This outer face, however, has adepression or indentation 70 which is in line with roller 69 when thecarriage is in its loading position shown in Figure 3. The shaft 61 isthus urged outwardly under pressure of spring 63 so that the bobbincenter on the end of shaft 61 is moved away from shaft 62 sufficientlyfar to permit the bobbin to be loaded'by the operator. Similar controlof shaft 62 is provided through rocker arm 65 which is actuated by theinner face of cam 48 through roller 71. A rise 72 on the inner face ofcam 48 pivots rocker arm 65 clockwise when the driveshaft 45 moves thecarriage to the unloading position of Figure 3. and slides shaft 62axially to the right.

This in turn compresses spring 64 Thus, both bobc all of the yarn fromthe center of the Obbin, iv; is devxdcd. w a 7 '77 kcycd to shaft 61.

when it is in contact with the large brush 20. For this purpose, I mounta motor on framework post 15 which turns a flat pulley 81 through areduction gear drive 83. Pulley 81 has a facing 32 and registers withpulley 77, the diameters of the pulleys and the location of pulley shaft84 being such that the pulleys contact brake shoe on pin 87 through alever 88 integral with the shoe and a connecting link 39. As soon as thecar riage swings forward again, a compression spring 90 clamps the brakeagainst pulley 77 to prevent further rotation of the shaft and bobbin.

In a somewhat similar manner, the main shaft 45 is prevented fromturning or spinning after the circuit is broken to the main motor 57 toinsure that the carriage always stops in the proper forward loadingposition and the switch actuator 56 always holds switch 55 open as shownin Figure 3. Shaft 45 is driven through a pair of meshing spur gears 91and 91a which in turn are drivon by motor 57, shaft 93 and reductionuntil 94. Shaft 93 is provided with a brake drum 95 (Figure 7) whichcooperates with a pair of brake shoes 96 and 97 actuated by means of asolenoid 93 and connecting linkage 99, 100, 101, and 102. The brakeshoes are pivoted at 103 and 104 and compressed against the brake drum95 by means of a spring 105 which actuates the shoes through rod 106.When the circuit is closed to the main motor 57, solenoid 98 isenergized, thus pivoting lever 100 counterclockwise and spreading theupper ends of the brake shoes. As soon as switch 55 is opened, thesolenoid is de-energized, locking both shafts 93 and 45, thus insuringinstantaneous stopping of the mechanism.

In operation, the bobbin B to be stripped is placed in a pair of saddlesand 111 (Figures 5 and 6) which position the bobbin in line with theshafts 61 and 62. For this purpose the collar 60 is readily displaced bycompressing spring 112 (Figure 2). When the bobbin is in the properaligned position with shafts 61 and 62, the flanges 113 and 114 of thebobbin close microswitches 115 and 116 respectively through plungers 117and 118. The operator then removes his hand from the bobbin anddepresses starting handle 119 which closes micro-switch 120. The handle119 is pivoted in frame members 121 and 122 and has an upper limit stop123 and an adjustable lower limit stop 124. Microswitches 115, 116 andare all connected in series with each other across the terminals ofswitch 55 so that only when the three switches, 115, 116 and 120, areclosed will motor 57 start. However, as soon as the motor does start,rotation of cam 47 closes switch 55 whereupon the operator removes hishand from handle 119, thus opening switch 120 when the handle pivotsupwardly under tension of spring 125. As soon as cam 47 completes onerevolution so that the rise 56 opens switch 55, the circuit to motor 57is opened and brake shoes 96 and 97 are applied. Bobbin B is thenremoved and exchanged for the next bobbin to be stripped and the cycleis repeated.

Ordinarily, I provide a suitable hood and vacuum induced draft in thehood to remove waste yarn from all three of the brushes. For the purposeof clarity, the hood and its associated vacuuzn pump are no: shoxvn inthe drawings.

It will thus be understood y id a c; a

x pp: ya b alt-s the lxkc, a framework, a manna Stu-upping brush moutedLn 531d framev/ork, means for turning said main brush,

a pair of corner stripping brushes mounted on said framework at an angleto the centerline of the bobbin to be stripped, means for turning eachof said corner stripping brushes, a carriage swingable from a loadingposition to a stripping position in contact with said brushes, a motorfor oscillating said carriage, a loading station for the brushes in linewith the outwardly oscillated position of the carriage, and electricalswitches at the loading station for closing the circuit to said motorwhen a bobbin is properly positioned on the loading station and astarting handle is depressed.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the carriage isoscillated by means of two cams keyed to a main drive-shaft.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the carriage isprovided with a pair of bobbin centers axially movable in the carriage,and cam means for opening said centers to receive a bobbin and thenceclose the centers to securely clamp the bobbin therebetween during thestripping operation.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 having means for turning thebobbin on its axis when the bobbin is being stripped by the main brush.

5. In mechanism for stripping waste yarn from bobbins and the like, aframework, a main stripping brush mounted in said framework, means forturning said main brush, a pair of corner Stripping brushes mounted onsaid framework at an angle to the centerline of the bobbin to bestripped, means for turning each of said corner stripping brushes, acarriage swingable from a loading position to a stripping position incontact with said brushes, a motor for oscillating said carriage,driving connections between said motor and the carriage, a brakeassociated with said driving connections, means for applying said brakewhen the carriage is in an outwardly oscillated position, aloadingstation for the brushes in line with the outwardly oscillatedposition of the carriage, and

electrical switches at the loading station for closing the circuit tosaid motor when a bobbin is properly .positioned on the loading stationand a starting handle is depressed.

6. In mechanism for stripping waste yarn from bobbins and the like, aframework, a main stripping brush mounted in said framework, means forturning said main brush, a pair of corner stripping brushes mounted onsaid framework at an angle to the centerline of the bobbin to bestripped, means for turning each of said corner stripping brushes, acarriage swingable from a loading position to a stripping position incontact with said brushes, a motor for oscillating said carriage, aloading station for the brushes in line with the outwardly oscillatedposition of the carriage, and means for initiating said stripping cyclewhen the carriage is at said outwardly oscillated position.

7. In mechanism for stripping waste yarn from bobbins and the like, aframework, a main stripping brush mounted in said framework, means forturning said main brush, a pair of corner stripping brushes mounted onsaid framework at an angle to the centerline of the bobbin to bestripped, means for turning each of said corner stripping brushes, acarriage swingable from a loading position to a stripping position incontact with said brushes, a motor for oscillating said carriage, aloading station for the brushes in line with the outwardly oscillatedposition of the carriage, means for turning the bobbin in the carriagewhen the bobbin is in contact with the? main stripping brush, andelectrical switches at the loading station for closing the circuit tosaid motor when a bobbin is properly positioned on the loading stationand a starting handle is depressed.

No references cited.

1. IN MECHANISM FOR STRIPPING WASTE YARN FROM BOBBINS AND THE LIKE, AFRAMEWORK, A MAIN STRIPPING BRUSH MOUNTED IN SAID FRAMEWORK, MEANS FORTURNING SAID MAIN BRUSH, A PAIR OF CORNER STRIPPING BRUSHES MOUNTED ONSAID FRAMEWORK AT AN ANGLE TO THE CENTERLINE OF THE BOTTOM TO BESTRIPPED, MEANS FOR TURNING EACH OF SAID CORNER STRIPPING BRUSHES, ACARRIAGE SWINGABLE FROM A LOADING POSITION TO A STRIPPING POSITION INCONTACT WITH SAID BRUSHES, A MOTOR FOR OSCILLATING SAID CARRIAGE, ALOADING STATION FOR